Trace-carrier



(No Model.)

A. E. CLARK.

TRACE CARRIER-- No. 437,096. Patented Sept. 23,1890.

Invenao r: @M M r ill/2Z1 222222 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER E. CLARK, OF BUCKHOLTS, TEXAS.

TRACE-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,096, datedSeptember 23, 1890.

Application filed June 27, 1890. Serial No. 356,953- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER E. CLARK, of Buckholts, in the county ofMilam and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Trace-Carriers; and I do hereby declare the followingto'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which formpart of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin trace-carriers; and it consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, which will be fullydescribed hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide the trace-carrier with alocking-brace, which is held in aclosed position by the chain, whichprevents all possibility of the chain from becoming detached from thecarrierwhile in use.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trace-carrier which embodies myinvention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same and showing thelocking-brace in one position in solid lines and in another position indotted lines.

A represents the trace carrier, which is shown in the patent granted tome March 12,

1889, and which need not therefore be more fully described at this time.While my present invention is intended especially as an improvement uponthat patent, it is adapted to be applied to other trace-carriers.

Pivoted to the upper central edge of the trace-carrier is thelocking-brace B, which is adapted to be closed down over the front ofthe central portion of the trace-carrier, as shown, and which isprovided with a loop 0, which passes over the hook D, and with theprojection G, which makes connection with the upper end of the hook D,as shown. This loop, resting in the recess H, which is made in the bodyof the trace-carrier to receive it, bears against the outer side of theband, so that when the link of the chain is made to catch over the hookthis link bears against theloop and thus serves to keep the brace lockedin position. The projection G, by making connection with the upper endof the hook, prevents all possibility of the chain from becomingdetached while in operation.

hen itis desired to either attach the chain or remove it from thetrace-carrier, the lock ing-brace must be opened out sufficiently far toallow the link to pass between the top of the hook and the projection,as shown. This locking-brace must be operated by hand, for the link canneither be inserted into nor removed from the hook until the brace ismoved into the proper position for this purpose. The lower end of theprojection G and the upper end of the hook are both cut away at the sameangle, so that before the link can be inserted into or removed freelyfrom the hook it must be first turned at the same angle as the ends ofthese two parts. If these two parts were not formed at this angle,should the link spring or bound upward to a point on a level with theupper end of the hook, it would readily force the brace outward and thusbecome detached-something which is almost impossible with theconstruction here shown. This brace serves to keep the side bars fromopening out or the pivoted bars working loose so as to allow theback-band to become detached from the carrier.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- In a trace-carrier, thecombination, with the body having a strap-fastener and an outwardly andupwardly extending hook, of a locking-plate, which is hinged at itsupper end to the upper portion of the body, and its lower end providedwith an inner perforated projection through which the said hook passes,and a shorter projection which closes the upper end of the hook,combined to operate in the mannersubstantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER E. CLARK. Witnesses:

ED. F. ENGLISH, WILLIAM J. SAYRE.

